news story

18th December 2008

Green Blueprint Launched

The Liberal Democrats have today published a blueprint to stimulate the economy out of recession and tackle climate change. The proposals have been drawn up by local MP Steve Webb, who is the party's spokesman on energy and climate change, and were launched today by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

The Liberal Democrats are arguing that the £12 billion spent on a one-off VAT cut would have been better spent on a package including:

* a massive boost to energy efficiency in homes, schools and hospitals;
* major investment in public transport, including ordering more train carriages and electrifying main lines such as the Great Western line;
* building 40,000 new 'zero-carbon' affordable homes for households on the housing waiting list.

The package has been carefully costed to match the cost of the one-off VAT cut and could help to create thousands of new 'green collar' jobs.

Commenting on the proposals, Steve Webb said:

"It is right that the economy needs a boost, but we need to make sure that we get lasting benefits rather than temporary VAT cuts. If we invest in energy efficiency in homes and public buildings this will cut bills for householders, schools and hospitals, will help the battle against climate change and will create jobs in the construction sector which is suffering so badly. We also urgently need to improve our public transport infrastructure, with more carriages on the region's train services and electrification of the main line to London. And we need to make sure that there are more affordable houses built of the highest environmental standard to help meet local housing need. This package presses all the right buttons and would provide lasting benefits to the economy and the environment".